President John Dramani Mahama, has said he has still not forgiven Uruguay football legend, Luiz Suarez almost 16 years after he successfully blocked Ghana’s chance of moving to the semifinals by an African country at the World Cup in South Africa.
The infamous handball incident occurred on July 2, 2010, during the FIFA World Cup quarter final between Uruguay and Ghana at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
Ghana was this close to reaching the semifinals with a Dominic Adiyah’s goal-bound header, but a certain Suarez blocked it with his hand at the goal line in the dying minutes of extra time.
A penalty was awarded to Ghana, but striker Asamoah Gyan, who had already converted two spot-kicks in the tournament, saw his effort agonizing hit the crossbar.
Years ago when a Ghanaian journalist caught up with him at the 2022 World Cup Qatar, where the two countries met again in the group, and he was asked about the incident and whether he intends to apologize he had this to say.
“I don’t need to apologize about that. I did the handball, but the Ghana player missed the penalty, nit me” Suarez said at a news conference in Doha. I could apologize if I had hurt a playe with a tackle and got a red card, but in this situation I take a red card and the referee says penalty. It is not my fault. I didn’t miss the penalty. The player who missed the penalty said he would do the same [as I did] in that situation. It’s not my responsibility in this situation”.
Speaking at the fundraising ceremony at the Kenpinskin Gold Coast Hotel, in Accra on Friday, March, the president recalled the incident.
The President, who was the vice president then said, he was pained by what Suarez did and he has since not liked him for what he did to Ghana.
He said, he has never wished him well in his football career even though he moved on to play big teams like Liverpool and Barcelona.
“I still remember 2010 vividly, the energy that was in the air. The nation stands still, united in hope. As we came within a whisper of gaining world glory. I still don’t like Suarez since that incident, and I have never wished him well for what he did.”
The president touching on the intention behind the fundraiser, said it was the intention of government to send fans to the tournament but was quick to note that, it wants to do it without the involvement of public funds.
He said his government was guided by the Dzamepe Committee report which investigated past tournament brouhaha.
“We all want to see our fans in the stands, but we must be responsible in how we use public resources. In consonance with the Dzamepe report, the government has no plans to allocate public funds to fly supporters to the World Cup.
The logistical support of flying and accommodating even just 200 supporters is staggering. The estimated cost for just 200 supporters is close to $2 million.”
By Gifty Boateng